Winchester Model 70 Custom Pre-64 Pre-War Engraved .257 Roberts Bolt Action Rifle & Scope, MFD 1937

SOLD FOR $1,350.00
LSB#: 170722MT01

Make: The rifle was originally made by Winchester. We don’t know who customized it.

Model: This is a customized Model 70 rifle.

Serial Number: 4730

Year of Manufacture: This rifle was made in 1937 according to Proofhouse.com, the 3rd year of manufacture. We don’t know when it was customized.

Caliber: .257 Roberts

Action Type: Bolt Action Rifle with Internal Hinged Floorplate Magazine

Markings: The left side of the receiver is marked “WINCHESTER / TRADE MARK”, the left side of the chamber ring with a circled “WP” proof, the right side of the chamber ring with “4730” and the left rear of the barrel with “257”.

Barrel Length: The barrel is 24” in length.

Sights / Optics: There are no provisions for iron sights. There is a vintage Bausch & Lomb Model Balvar 5, 2.5-5X variable power scope mounted to the top of the receiver. The eyepiece is marked with what we think is the serial number of the scope “GT3339” and “ROCHESTER, N.Y. U.S.A.”. The scope snaps into the mounts and the windage and elevation adjustment is on the mounts, not on the scope. The rear mount is marked on its right side with “BAUSCH / & LOMB / OPT. CO. / U.S.A.”, with a “BL” logo inside a triangle, and “PAT. APPL’D FOR / MAUSER”. The underside of the ring body is marked “KUHARSKY BROS. / ERIE, PA U.S.A.”. The reticle is a fine cross-hairs and the lenses are clear and free of distortion. The eyepiece can be turned separately from the power ring, but to get the power ring to turn only within its normal range, we had to tighten the eyepiece. There are only a few tiny marks in the power ring and eyepiece. The scope is in about Excellent condition.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a custom engraved fancy walnut with a lacquered finish. The buttstock has a pistol grip with black grip cap and white spacer, and a black vented recoil pad by Pachmayr, also with white spacer. The forend has an ebony tip with white spacer and a round ivory dot in its front face. The pistol grip cap has a gold medallion engraved with the initials “J I R” in script. The borders of the checkered areas are engraved, with deep leafy engraving extending into the checkered areas somewhat like the Fleur-de-lis patterns we have seen on other rifles. Please see our pictures for a better description than we can put in words. There are sling swivels mounted in the belly and the underside of the forend. There are tiny crazing marks in the finish of the buttstock. The right side of the buttstock shows multiple tiny dings as though someone laid the rifle down on a bed of nails. There a few chips in the finish around the edges of the cheekpiece and several small dings and handling marks on the left side of the forend below the receiver. There are also several more dings and drag lines scattered over the rest of the stock. The checkering shows light even wear without mars. The LOP measures 12 3/16” from the front of the trigger to the back of the recoil pad. The pad is pliable on its edges and shows only light wear at its toe. The pad is in about Excellent condition. The stock rates in about Fine condition.

Type of Finish: The finish is blue. The bolt and the magazine follower are jeweled. The bolt knob is knurled. The magazine floorplate, magazine well and trigger guard are elaborately scroll and border engraved. In addition, where is a large scene of two deer drinking in the magazine floorplate and an outline of a bear engraved on the trigger guard.

Finish Originality: The finish on the barrel may be original, but the barrel isn’t original to the rifle. The rest of the rifle has been professionally refinished.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 97% of its current metal finish. There is thinning at the front edge of the barrel and there are a few light handing marks in the barrel and receiver. The bolt knob shows surface loss – it looks like about half of the knob was not refinished when the rest of the bolt handle was refinished – and there is a spot of surface loss on the underside of the bolt handle. The screw heads are engraved, but also show marks from a screwdriver. The markings are clear except for the proof mark on the chamber ring, which is very faint. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fine condition as refinished.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a tan chamois one piece carrying sling. The sling uses Chicago screws to adjust overall length, and the Chicago screw heads are made from NRA Junior Rifle Corps medallions. The sling shows light staining with verdigris growing around the Chicago screws. The sling is in about Very Good condition.

Our Assessment: This is a custom Winchester Model 70 rifle made in the 3rd year of production, 1937. The barrel has been replaced with a 24” barrel lacking provisions for iron sights chambered in .257 Roberts. A custom stock was added, which was hand checkered and elaborately engraved, with a gold medallion embedded in the pistol grip cap bearing the owner’s initials. The magazine floorplate and trigger guard were scroll and border engraved around animal scenes. Please see our pictures for more detail than we can go into here. The piece de la resistance is the vintage Bausch & Lomb 2.5-5X scope mounted on the receiver with Bausch & Lomb mounts that are adjustable for windage and elevation. This is a fantastic package for the collector of early Winchester rifles. The pre-WWII rifles are much sought after, even more so than the pre-1964 models. This may not have its original barrel and finish, but it’s a beautiful rifle none-the-less and the scope and mounts are collectable in their own right. The chamois carrying sling even uses NRA Junior Rifle Corp medallions as Chicago screws.

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This C&R eligible rifle can be transferred/sold in California.